Jorgenson warns Pogacar: "No guarantees, and our climbing train is stronger than last Tour"

The American made significant progress in his first year with Visma-Lease a Bike. His final victory in Paris-Nice gave him a considerable boost. "Last year, Jonas Vingegaard and I were roommates during the winter training camp, and he said then that I could win Paris-Nice. I responded that I would already be pleased with a top-five finish," Jorgenson told the Belgian website Sporza. In the end, Vingegaard turned out to be correct.

His unexpected win in Paris-Nice has motivated the American to aim higher in the coming years. "That final victory in Paris-Nice made me reboot my ambitions and set myself higher and new goals. Otherwise, I wouldn't push myself enough to keep working hard."

So what will that be next, that higher goal? "Winning a grand tour someday! I set myself the goal of winning a grand tour someday. I did ask the team for time and patience for that," said Jorgenson confidently because the Dutch team wanted to move on immediately. "I already got the proposal to be a leader in the Giro this year, but I didn't feel ready for that yet."

Before that, the 25-year-old American wants to ride the entire three weeks as a super-domestique for Vingegaard. It's the next step in his development. "Hopefully, I can also prove in the Tour this year that I've improved and can ride a good third week. If that succeeds, I will compete in a grand tour next year." Ultimately, he wants to follow in the footsteps of great American champions like Greg LeMond and thus win the Tour himself. "That will be the big challenge of my career. I don't think it's impossible."

In addition to his dreams of grand tours, Jorgenson wants to continue shining in the Flemish classics. He believes he can be successful in both disciplines. "I refuse to choose between grand tours and classics because I don't think that's necessary."

In particular, he focuses on the Tour of Flanders, the race he prefers to add to his palmares. "Last year, I learned that the training approach at Visma-Lease a Bike has made me much more explosive. I just have to be more efficient with my strength. I know I can cause a lot of havoc if I ride full up a hill."

Jorgenson rides the opening weekend, E3 Saxo Classic, Dwars door Vlaanderen, and concludes his spring with the Tour of Flanders. "Why? Because last year we noticed that I didn't improve after the Ronde and even got ill." He also wants to prepare optimally for the Tour, which means Paris-Roubaix and the Amstel Gold Race are not part of his program.

At the Tour, Jorgenson and his team will do everything possible to defeat Tadej Pogacar. "Although, of course, he is not our only competitor," Jorgenson added. "But if Pogacar is at the start, many of our tactics will be focused on him.' Still, the American cautions that Pogacar will not necessarily show the same dominance as last year. 'It is not a guarantee that Pogacar will be as strong this year as he was in 2024. Last year, everything fell in place for him."

In addition, Visma-Lease a Bike has strengthened its climbing train, which Jorgenson says could be a significant advantage. "Last year we were unlucky that Sepp Kuss dropped out before the Tour with a corona infection.' This year, Kuss and newcomer Simon Yates will be there. 'That makes our climbing train much stronger than in the previous Tour," says a Jorgenson full of (self)confidence.